Take An Electric Bike Tour Along The Spectacular North San Diego Coast

From Carlsbad To Encinitas….Pedaling Is A Breeze On An Electric Bike with Pedego of Carlsbad!
Carlsbad is a seaside resort city occupying a 7-mile stretch of glorious Pacific coastline in northern San Diego County, California. Locals referred to it as “The Village by the Sea” and it is a mega-tourist destination. {As a quick frame of reference, the city is 90 miles south of Los Angeles and 35 miles north of downtown San Diego. It is sandwiched between Oceanside to the north, and Leucadia/Encinitas to the south.}

Along Carlsbad Village Drive, and just a stone’s throw from the ocean and Carlsbad Boulevard jaunting north and south, is the retail store, Pedego of Carlsbad. This is a friendly bike shop specializing in electric bikes. Riding electric makes it so easy to maneuver up and down hills, and ride much longer distances. The showroom has many various models of Pedego electric bikes for sale, they service bikes on-site, have add-on accessories, do bike rentals, and they even do guided bike tours. On this fine summer day, we were treated to a great tour, guided by Denise who is one of the owners.

Guided Tours Pedego Carlsbad offers four different guided tours. If 1-3 guests are riding as a group, they use head-sets to communicate points of interest along the way. If there are more than three guests, the guide stops more frequently, however, do not use the head-sets.

Step-By-Step “Dali Lama Tour” We decided to do the Dali Lama Tour since it would take us along the lovely coastline, through two charming towns just south of Carlsbad and along historic old Highway 101. We have never ridden along this stretch since we typically find ourselves cruising south by car on the 5 Freeway. This ride takes approximately 2.5 hours, or a tad more, depending on how many times you stop for photos and ice cream! Call for cost of a guided tour  and it includes the bike rental.

This overview and series of photos will give you the reader enough information that you could rent bikes, print this out, and conduct your own “self-guided tour” very easily. This is one of their most popular tours. I might suggest that if you are new to using an electric bike, you might want to spend a few minutes in the back parking lot getting comfortable on the bike and learning how to use the throttle and brakes. It is easy but the nearby streets are busy, so it is best to be comfortable before heading out.

So put your helmet on and here we go! Let’s get started on the tour…

• We begin the tour making a left from the retail store and heading west on Carlsbad Village Drive just past a few buildings to reach Carlsbad Blvd. We cross the street and make a left turn.
• As riders head south, there is a designated bike lane to the right. There are automobiles to the left, and beautiful houses are to the right. Very soon the roadway opens up to reveal the beautiful Carlsbad State Beach.
• Between Redwood Ave. and Tamarack Ave. is a wonderful Italian restaurant called Vigilucci’s Seafood & Steakhouse (on the left). It is delicious and is open for lunch and dinner, with a lovely patio and a great happy hour too.
• Just past this spot, to the left you will see the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. An interesting footnote about this lagoon is… Carlsbad’s history began with the Luiseño people (the Spanish name given to them because of their proximity to Mission San Luis Rey). Nearly every reliable fresh water creek had at least one native village, including one called Palamai. This site was located just south of today’s Agua Hedionda Lagoon (just north of Cannon Road).
• At Tamarack State Beach riders will see a large ramp that leads down to a parking lot and the beach is below. This is a lovely spot for a photo, and there are restrooms here as well.
• Continuing, riders will see a road sign for Cannon Road, and then Palomar Airport Road, but just continue straight and southbound on Carlsbad Blvd.
• Just past Poinsettia Lane is a charming resort that I consider to be a hidden gem Cape Rey Resort (a Hilton Hotel). They have Chandler’s Restaurant & Bar, offering a delicious assortment of appetizers and entrees, with a lovely patio and offer drinks poolside. Check their web site for live music by the pool and during happy hours.
  

  

  

  

  

• Further down the road, Encinitas City Beach and South Ponto Beach will be on the right and Baniquitos Lagoon is to the left. Just before the light for La Costa Ave. riders will see a parking lot and chain link fencing on the right. Just beyond this (toward the water) is a dirt pathway. Riders can easily propel themselves up the hill to a lovely flat landing area with super 180 degree views of the ocean below. Great photo spot.

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Returning back down the pathway, we make a right turn and continue along Carlsbad Blvd. Right about here is where we pick up the “Shared Road” which means that bicycles ride in the right lane of a regular two lane road. Cars are on the left, and you will know this because of the bike symbol which is painted on the road.
  

You know you are entering the charming town of Leucadia when you smell the old Donut Shop on the right and then see the iconic yellow building of the Pannikin Coffee & Tea House greeting you. This is a small town which reminds everyone of the old days when this was the main route north and southbound. . (See below for history.)

• As riders enter the north end of Encinitas there are lots of restaurants dotting the highway. One of my favorites is Fish 101 restaurant. It is a small restaurant with the most amazing fresh fish around. They also source all of their produce from local farmers just a few miles away.
• The archway of Encinitas greets rides as we enter the heart of downtown. Just past Encinitas Blvd. the roadway is narrow, so we quickly take a right onto D Street, and then a left at Third Street. We follow this along (parallel with the ocean) amid a quiet tree-lined street of homes, cottages and tree houses.
  

• And speaking of building… to the right at 726 and 732 Third Street, don’t miss the historic sight of two boats (to the right) that look as though they have been shipwrecked right there, but they are located two blocks from the beach! The SS Encinitas and SS Moonlight sit side by side and are actually homes. (Please see the history below.)
  

• At the far end, Third Street curves to the left and down a small hill. On the right is the Self Realization Meditation Gardens. Riders can park their bikes to the left just inside the iron gates, and there are restrooms here as well. It is just like stepping into a secret garden, with meandering pathways up a gentle incline. There are beautiful plantings and flowers, meditation nooks, koi ponds, a small waterfall and guests are rewarded with spectacular ocean views of the ocean below. To the south is Swami’s Park, Reef and Beach. At the top is a plaque commemorating the Temple which once stood on this site in the 1940’s. (See History Below.)

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

• The return back to Pedego Carlsbad is fairly straight forward. When riders reach the intersection of Carlsbad Blvd. and Palomar veer to the left to stay on Carlsbad Blvd. Along the way, in southern Carlsbad you may notice black floating items bobbing in the water of the lagoon. That is the Carlsbad Aquafarm where mussels and oysters are harvested for wholesale to specialty markets such as Whole Foods. (See History below.)

So there you have it. Carlsbad has so much to offer and there is nothing better than seeing all that behind the handle bars of a Pedego bike. With the wonderful scent of the sea and the wind in your hair, this is an instant vacation. Hello Fun!

A Brief History Lesson On Points of Interest-

Pannikin Coffee & Tea– Built in 1888 the Pannikin is located in this historic Santa Fe Railroad Station on historic Coast Highway 101 which is now painted a bright yellow with white trim. They are family owned and have been serving the community since 1968. They roast coffee and yummy baked goods daily for all four of its San Diego locations. It is worth a quick stop.

Boat Houses on Third Street- On a quiet street of quaint beach houses and mismatched cottages you’ll suddenly find yourself confronted by two ginormous boats – most definitely in dry dock since they’re situated two blocks back from the beach. Built by architect Miles Kellogg in the late 1920’s he used timber salvaged from the local bathhouse and a hotel that failed to survive Prohibition’s dry years (the 1888 Moonlight Beach Dance Parlor). They have never been to sea, despite their 19 portholes, mariner’s wheels and quirky starboard list. The SS Encinitas and SS Moonlight have only been homes. Each house is 15 feet tall by 20 feet long and approximately 1,100 square feet. The Encinitas Preservation Association purchased the houses in 2008 and currently rent both out as private dwellings. But once that income has paid off the loan, the plan is to turn them into a small museum for the public. (The Boathouses are part of our Guided Downtown Walking Tour starting at 10:00am every third Saturday from September to July. They are located at 726 and 732 Third Street.)   Source: http://www.encinitashistoricalsociety.org/the-boathouses.html

Carlsbad Aquafarm- Carlsbad Aquafarm cultivates Mediterranean Blue Mussels, Pacific Oysters and Ogo. The company has been in operation since 1990 in Carlsbad. The farm has developed a secondary line of products for the marine aquaria trade known as “live-feed” that includes micro and macro algae, copepods, amphipods and brine shrimp. The farm uses sustainable suspended long-line cultivation methods that cause minimal impact on marine habitat, wild fish populations, water quality and the marine environment. Rigorous laboratory testing standards and ultra-violet purification systems help ensure product safety while close proximity to t LA and San Diego. This allows for a quick turn-around from harvest to delivery to wholesale clients in Southern California. The result is fresh, high quality products with a small carbon footprint. Carlsbad Aquafarm products are sold exclusively to wholesalers.

Dr. Seuss– I had no idea that Dr. Seuss lived in La Jolla and the unique shape of the trees gave him inspiration for his drawings.

Self Realization Meditation Gardens- The internationally renowned gardens offer a diversity of colorful plants, meditation nooks and seating areas, koi ponds and small waterfall and spectacular ocean views – providing a unique inspirational setting where one can pray, study, meditate, or just sit quietly enjoying the expression of God’s beauty in nature.

The Encinitas Temple is a branch of Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF), an international religious organization founded in 1920 by Paramahansa Yogananda to disseminate the universal teachings of Kriya Yoga, a sacred spiritual science originating millenniums ago in India. The nearby Encinitas Ashram Center and Meditation Gardens were established by Paramahansa Yogananda during his lifetime, and have become a center of pilgrimage for thousands of people each year, who come from all parts of the globe to visit the site where this great world teacher lived, worked, and communed with God. Born in India in 1893, Paramahansa Yogananda has come to be recognized as one of the preeminent spiritual figures of our time and is often referred to as the “Father of Yoga in the West,” his Autobiography of a Yogi is widely regarded as a modern-day spiritual About Self-Realization Fellowship

Shortly after Paramahansa Yogananda received the gift of the Encinitas Hermitage, he began plans for the construction of the Golden Lotus Temple, which he dedicated on January 2, 1938. The temple was designed by Paramahansaji himself with the intention of revealing as much as possible the panorama of nature’s beauty. Magnificent views of sea and sky were afforded by the four-story glass observation tower and immense windows overlooking the Pacific Ocean, which was visible directly behind the low altar. During the next four years, thousands attended the Thursday and Sunday services conducted by the Guru at this site (in the present-day Meditation Gardens). In 1942 the erosion of the shoreline caused the Golden Lotus Temple to become unstable, and sadly, it subsequently had to be removed. There is a plaque there today commemorating the site of this temple. Note: Pictures of the Temple are available on their web site.

Meditation Gardens- 215 W. K Street (between 2nd and 3rd Streets) Open Tuesday – Saturday from 9:00am to 5:00pm, Sunday 11:00am to 5:00pm and closed on Mondays. http://encinitastemple.org/

So How Did Carlsbad Get Its Name? In the 1880’s a former sailor named John Frazier dug a well in the area. He began offering his water at the train station and soon the whistle-stop became known as Frazier’s Station. A test done on a second fresh-water well discovered the water to be chemically similar to that found in some of the most renowned spas in the world. The town was named after the famed Spa in the Bohemian town of Karlsbad in Czech Republic. Source: Carlsbad Historical Society http://www.carlsbadhistoricalsociety.com/

THREE OTHER PEDEGO BIKE TOURS TO CONSIDER:

Couples Romantic Picnic- 3 hours  and call for costs- Enjoy each other’s company while you soak up the sun, bike ride to the beach, and surround yourself with breathtaking sights. Pedego Carlsbad will provide the items needed to kick start your picnic so that guests can have the freedom to create their own getaway, including: two comfortable electric bikes with a basket, beach towels for relaxing by the sea, speakers to play both iPhones and MP3 devices, a keepsake cooler for complimentary bottled waters and deli sandwiches made by one of our local deli’s (selecting from a menu), and a keepsake Pedego sports watch to remember the day of fun. Guests pick up their Pedego bike between 10:00am and 2:00, and keep the bikes for up to 3 hours. They must be returned to the shop before 5:00pm.

Lookout Tour 1.5 hours- call for costs- This tour lets riders see first-hand what makes Southern California special. Ride alongside the historic Highway 101 where the highway hugs the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy a Look Out Point with commanding views of the Pacific ocean below. Great at sunset!

Oceanside Pier Guided Ride 1.5 hours- call for costs- Riders will cruise along the ocean and through quaint neighborhoods while your guide shares fun facts and relevant information on California. The first stop is the house where Top Gun was filmed. From there they head to the Oceanside Pier, the longest wooden constructed recreational pier on the west coast. It is visited by over a million people a year and guests will learn the history of this legendary pier. Often times seals and dolphins are spotted. From the pier, riders will cruise along to Oceanside Harbor to the village filled with shops, eateries and a lighthouse. The Harbor is known for sports fishing, boating and other water oriented activities. (This tour is best for more experienced riders given the busy roadways.)

Pedego Carlsbad 2978 Carlsbad Blvd #130, Carlsbad, CA 92008 (760) 729-2453 www.pedegoelectricbikes.com/dealers/carlsbad